STAND. COM. REP. NO. 622-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1423

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1423, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VIOLATIONS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the amount of the fine that may be assessed against a noncandidate committee that makes only independent expenditures and has received at least one contribution of more than $10,000 or spent more than $10,000 in an election period; and

(2) Authorize the Campaign Spending Commission to order that the fine, or any portion of the fine, assessed against a noncandidate committee be paid from the personal funds of the officers of the noncandidate committee.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that this measure increases the amount of fines assessed against a noncandidate committee that makes only independent expenditures, otherwise known as Super PACs or large political action committees. Your Committee further finds that increasing the amount of the fine is necessary in enforcement cases against Super PACs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1423, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair